CHAPTER XIX. THE WHITE SERPENTS AND THE IRON CHEST. We then resumed our journey; and, having Junched and dined on the way, arrived in the evening at a lovely village, the name of which I entirely forget. It was situated, however, high up in the mountains; so that, as night came on, we felt the cold, biting air, just as one feels it in the Alps, and were right glad, on entering the inn parlor, to find a blazing fire on the hearth. Here we supped; and the captain and I sat talking by the chimney corner long after the rest of the uscript, in which all the particulars of the transaction are related; but, unfortunately, it is imperfect, the name of the church and the mosque being no longer to be found in it.' "She then handed the manuscript to me, written in Arabic, and accompanied by a French translation. It was evidently very old, and probably dated as far back as the period of the Crusades. I glanced through it, and then inquired in what way I could be of service to her in this matter. struck me that she desired I should make a pilgrimage to Constantinople, to recover this wealth for her. I was mistaken; her wish was very dif It company had retired to bed. He was a remark- ferent. She only desired that, through my knowl ably pleasant companion, full of stories and anec- edge of the language of the stars, I should reveal dotes, by his manner of relating which he amused to her the name of the mosque in which the treas me greatly. Most of them turned on incidents which had occurred during his residence in the Swiss chateau. But I can scarcely venture to tell them again, so much of the interest depended on his manner, on the tone of his voice, and on the earnest, half-confidential air he assumed during the narration. We had each just lighted a fresh cigar, and stirred the fire up into a rich, warm blaze, when, drawing his chair closer to mine, "I will tell you a story," said he, "about my chateau, and the singular mistress of it. She was an old lady, proud of her birth, who remembered, with wonderful accuracy, the achievements of her ancestors, and could trace back her lineage beyond the earliest of the Crusades. Observing me to be rather addicted to astronomy, she took it into her head that I must also be an astrologer and a conjurer, and was fully persuaded that I was an adept in all the mysteries of the black art. She inhabited one wing of the chateau, the remainder of which she had let to me, at a rent much below its value, merely for the pleasure of having a neighbor with whom she could sometimes converse. "One winter night, very late, my man Francois came into my study, to inform me that Madame la Comptesse wanted to speak with me. 'Show her in,' said I; and, with the word, I got up to receive her. "She entered with a most stately air. I presented her a chair by the fire, and began, as an Englishman always does, to talk about the weather, and other agreeable things of that sort. This was evidently not the topic upon which the countess wished to converse. She therefore stopped me short, and said, "Excuse me, monsieur; but I come to consult you on a subject of the utmost importance, which, with your permission, I will at once explain.' "I said I should be happy to hear whatever she had to communicate. She then proceeded : "One of my ancestors was a distinguished knight who, having fought in the Holy Land, and amassed great treasure by plundering the infidels, proceeded afterwards to Constantinople, and there, in a certain church, now become a mosque, buried beneath a particular stone an immense treasure in gold and jewels. I have here in my hand a man ure lay buried; upon which, old as she was, she would herself proceed to Constantinople, and there take the necessary steps for recovering possession of it. "It was with much difficulty that I preserved my gravity; but I assured her that my intimacy with the stars was by no means so great as she imagined, and that it would be difficult, or, perhaps, impossible for me to discover the name of the mosque in question. I was resolved, however, to humor her, because convinced she must be mad. ""Well,' said she, after a short pause, 'we will discuss that matter another time. At present, I have a different favor to ask. In one of the vaults of this castle, I have a chest filled with gold and silver; and when I am absent, two small white serpents usually take their station on the lid, to protect the treasure. Lately, however, these faithful guardians of my property have disappeared; and I am now desirous that, during a visit which I must pay to Paris, you should take charge of the chest.' ""Instead of the serpents?" I inquired, involuntarily. ""Yes,' she replied, gravely. 'Come, monsieur, follow me.' "So saying, she arose, and, taking up a candle from the table, proceeded towards the door; upon which I also arose, and followed her, fully persuaded that she required a straight-waistcoat immediately. Proceeding from room to room, traversing long corridors, ascending and descending staircases, moving beneath turrets and archways, we at length reached the vault, the door of which she opened with a large key, previously concealed beneath her apron. When we entered, she turned round and locked the door carefully behind us; then taking from her girdle three other keys, she inserted them in the chest, and turning them one after another, the lid flew open; and, sure enough, it was full of silver and gold. ""This,' said she, 'is what I wish you to take charge of for me.' "But, dear madame,' said I, 'it is dangerous to entrust all this property with a stranger. Have you no relative with whom you could more safely deposit the money?" "I have a nephew,' she replied, with a smile; 'but it is to see him that I am going to Parisand for the rest, I can put entire confidence in you, if you will permit me.' ""Well, madame,' I replied, 'if it affords you any pleasure, I shall be most happy to become the successor of the serpents. Tell me, however, before I do so, what amount of money the chest contains?' ""Just fifteen thousand pounds sterling; neither more nor less.' "I felt uneasy. It was impossible I should count the money; and, as there was clearly a flaw in her understanding, I could not be sure she would not, on her return, imagine she had left sixteen thousand, and call me to account for the difference. However, it was impossible, without rudeness, to escape from the difficulty; so I determined, at all hazards, to become the guardian of her treasure-and, having expressed myself to that effect, we quitted the vault. "In two or three days the countess quitted the chateau. Whether or not she ever went to Paris is more than I can say. Weeks and months passed over, and I received no letter from her. I began to feel uneasy. She had disappeared in a mysterious manner; and should she in any way have come by her death, I might, for aught I know, have lain under the suspicion of having hastened her departure across the Styx. "Spring came, and summer followed; and still no news of the countess. As I was sitting one fine evening in the park, on a camp-stool, at the foot of a huge linden tree, smoking a cigar, and puffing its fragrant clouds over the head of a huge St. Bernard dog that lay at my feet, I was made sensible of the approach of a stranger by Carlo's giving a sudden growl. ""Be quiet, old fellow,' said I; and then looking up, I saw a dark, sinister-looking man at the distance of about ten paces. He did not wait to be questioned respecting his business. ""I am come,' said he, looking respectfully at the dog, 'from Madame la Comtesse, and am desirous of saying a few words to you in private.' "He was, as I now found, an Italian, and, as I conjecture, must have served many years among the brigands of the Apennines; for a more accomplished cut-throat, in appearance, at least, never crossed my path. "We may be private enough here,' said I, 'so you can explain your business at once.' "He made no reply, but looked timidly at Carlo. "I see, friend, you are afraid of the dog,' I observed; but there is no necessity.' "I then ordered Carlo to rise and go and lie down under another tree which I pointed out to him; which he immediately did, keeping his eyes, however, all the while fixed upon my visitor. "The Italian now came close to me, said his name was Mazzio, and that he was come from the countess to remove and convey to Paris a chest with three locks which lay in a certain vault, known, as he said, to me. ""But, friend,' said I, 'have you any written order?' "He replied that he had not. ""Then you shall not touch the chest,' said I 'nor any one else, till the countess herself arrives.' ""But should the countess never make her appearance?' said he, with a significant grin. ""Why, in that case, I will deliver it up to her lawful heir.' ""That is to me, signor; I am her lawful heir.' ""That may be; but I shall require you to prove it, before I deliver up my trust.' "His lip quivered, he turned a little pale, and felt in his bosom, as if for a poniard. I was convinced he had murdered the countess, and was now come to get possession of his booty. But how he could have obtained a knowledge of the chest, it puzzled me to conjecture. ""And where did you leave the countess?" I inquired; perceiving he was not inclined to break silence. ""It does not signify,' said he. ""But, friend,' I exclaimed, it does signify; and unless you explain at once, I shall take you into custody, under suspicion of having murdered her.' ""No, you won't, signor,' replied the fellow, drawing a stiletto from under his waistcoat. 'I will silence you with that first.' But "He was a robust, brawny-looking ruffian, with a most unpleasant twinkle about the eyes; while I am not, as you see, a very powerful man. I had an ally at hand, whose presence he had forgotten. As soon as Carlo noticed the change in the tone of our voices, he crept stealthily towards the spot, and the moment Mr. Mazzio drew forth his dagger, sprang and seized him by the collar, and had him at his full length on the ground in a twinkling. In the sudden surprise he dropped the stiletto, which I picked up, and then desiring Carlo to let go his hold, bade my worthy get up, and walk out of the grounds. ""Or stay," said I; 'I had better get you escorted.' "I then whistled loudly; and Francois, and two or three sturdy Swiss grooms, came running towards us. ""Seize this fellow,' said I. 'He is a robber and an assassin. We must get him hanged, if possible.' "Signor Mazzio now became alarmed, and entreated me, for the love of Heaven, not to send him to prison. ""The countess,' said he, 'is alive, and in good health, and will be here this very night. I am her nephew's valet; and, having accidentally overheard of the existence of the chest in the vault, it struck me I could make a better use of its contents than her ladyship. So now, do let me go! I should die if I were compelled to face her.' ""Not quite so fast, friend,' said I; ' it will be time enough to let you go when I am perfectly sure of her safety. I shall, therefore, keep you shut up in a strong room in the chateau; and as soon as I ascertain by the testimony of my own eyes, you shall have my permission to make yourself scarce if you please.' "This was done; and, late in the same evening, the countess, to my great relief, did, sure enough, arrive. She was too much fatigued for me to think of touching upon the chest that night. But next morning, on my mentioning the subject, she observed with a smile cool air inexpressibly exhilarating. It was laden, also, with the sound of distant bells, which seemed to say, like the muezzin's voice from the minaret -"Arise, ye faithful, and pray, prayer is better than sleep!" And this, surely, is the conviction of universal humanity. The oldest of the Greek poets represents prayer as so many daughters of heaven, destined to move over the earth in the wake of crime, obliterating its footsteps as they go. All nations, in all ages, feeling their depend"You are an English gentleman. That is ence on some unseen power, have dropped upon enough. If I had remained absent seven years, I their knees instinctively, and turned up their faces should have felt no apprehension for my property, towards heaven, in the hope of catching a blesshad it been ten times as great; and, to convince ing from thence. And never is human nature so you of the reality of my confidence, I shall not visit, nor unlock the chest until a full year and a day after you have left this chateau, whenever that may be.' grand or beautiful as in this attitude, which links, as it were, the two worlds together, brings down heaven to earth, or lifts up earth to heaven, fuses spirit and matter, and makes an imperfect material creature a fit companion for seraphs. At the door of the breakfast parlor I met Carlotta. "Do yon go to mass to-day?" inquired she. "I go to church," was my reply. "And afterwards," exclaimed the captain, who was just then descending the stairs, "I trust we shall all go out into the woods, to enjoy one of the loveliest walks in Christendom." "With all my heart," exclaimed Carlotta. "I love walking in woods, it is so refreshing to the spirit." I know not how it was, but after breakfast, instead of accompanying Carlotta to mass, I went out with the Dalmatian and the Milanese for a walk. While the church bells were going busily, we went up one street and down another, talking, laughing, and enjoying the cheerful sunshine. smoke of furnaces, factories, and so on. Every- The church-goers in that secluded village were body feels that it is a day of rest; and whoever not numerous, though they probably included all has a spark of religion in him, is deeply conscious the inhabitants, old and young, who proceeded that around him, on all sides, the sweet incense of prayer, from millions of lips, is ascending through the air, and purifying and sanctifying it. Oh! how precious is the repose of that day. The poor look forward to it as to a renewal of life, as to a season of special blessing, when they shall have leisure to recruit their strength of mind and body for encountering the toils and difficulties of the ensuing week. Then, too, they will surely hear the voice of glad tidings, peace on earth, and good-will towards men." There is a solemn hush in the storm of worldly passions over the whole Christian world, amid which the still small voice of devotion is everywhere heard more or less distinctly. Let all those, therefore, who are toilworn and oppressed, bless the divine institution of the Sabbath, which brings to many, if not to all, glimpses of a better world, and opens by the wayside fountains of hope and gladness to refresh them during their weary pilgrimage towards heaven. On awaking in the morning I experienced all with cheerful and glad faces to offer up the tribute of their devotion to Heaven. At the bottom of a street, about half-a-mile from the church, we met a young lady proceeding thitherward, and leading a little girl, about nine years old, by her hand. When we had approached near enough to see her face distinctly, the words, “Oh, Dio santo," burst from the lips of the Milanese. The Dalmatian and I were silent. We walked on and passed the lady, who moved, like a celestial vision, up the hill. Never since or before have I seen beauty so perfect. No Madonna ever painted by Raphael, no Aphrodite ever sculptured by the Hellenic chisel, could equal it. To enjoy another look we turned round, walked rapidly up the hill, and then came leisurely down again. This we repeated three times; and, as we last went by her, I thought I saw the lady smile, not with pity, or contempt, or scorn, but apparently with surprise. Her costume was in itself, to the last degree, graceful. It consisted of an amber-col a rich the delicious effects of sleeping on the summits ored satin dress, open in front, with of mountains. On throwing open the casement, lace chemisette over the bosom, and a fine full which the chambermaid, unknown to me, had petticoat of white muslin. On her head was the closed in the evening, I felt the in-rushing of the Genoese veil, supported on the forehead by a and weaknesses of this earth. "I have no ambi- found enjoying a nap in the garden; but the Hantion," said he. "I ask in this world nothing, overian had disappeared, possibly preferring a even of God himself, but my daily bread, and his lonely walk to our society. The Swiss were merciful forgiveness. Did I say, nothing? Yes, getting tipsy in a bower close at hand, from which I daily and hourly pray for one thing more, namely, clouds of smoke issued between the vine leaves, mingled with a roar of bacchanalian songs, intermixed, occasionally, with ornamental oaths. comb, and descending in waving folds almost to the feet. Her hair, the most exquisite auburn, fell loosely over her shoulders in large natural ringlets, unconfined below by anything; but, behind the comb, a singular ornament of plaited white satin, broad above but narrowing towards both ends, came down the side of the face, and was tied with white ribbon under the chin. Her eyes were of the richest and brightest blue; her features regular as those of Venus herself, harmonized by an expression of unearthly softness and serenity. Her look was upturned, her gait quiet, and there was an air of reverence about her, scarcely belonging to this every-day world. Not a glance, not a movement betrayed in her the slightest consciousness of her surpassing loveliness. She seemed as innocent as Eve before the fall. I quitted my companions, and followed her at a distance to the church. When I entered, she was already on her knees, with her arms crossed upon her breast, in the attitude of profound devotion. The light of one of the richly painted windows fell across her figure, illuminating it and surrounding it with a sort of glory. Her prayers found no vent in words. Silent as a statue, she looked up towards heaven, absorbed in ecstatic devotion, and forgetful evidently of all below. I paid no attention to the words of the mass-my eyes were fixed on her; and this I trust was pardonable, as I could never again hope to see anything so beautiful among God's creatures. Some such vision must have dawned upon Raphael's mind, and formed the prototype of those virgins whose celestial loveliness still adorns the walls of churches and palaces, and imparts a charm, as it were, to the whole face of Europe. I would give much to know that woman's fate. Is she happy? Did she, or could she, find any one worthy of her; or did religion detach her from earth, and convert her into one of the brides of heaven? However this may have been, I felt that it was good for me to be there; and ever since, sleeping or waking, the image of that face beams upon my fancy, at times refreshing and invigorating it. The preacher that day was a Franciscan friar, clad in a loose brown hair-cloth shirt, with a rope about his waist. He was barefoot and bareheaded, and had a countenance of singular elevation and nobleness. His text was extraordinary: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." I felt in a moment that he was no ordinary man. He should have preached before statesmen-he should have addressed himself to the great ones of this world, to rouse them from their lethargy, and make them feel how awful a thing it is to sport with the destinies of the human race, and defraud their brethren of their birthright. I may, without the least risk of mis employing it, apply the epithet holy to that friar. He stood removed far above all the temptations to behold this beloved land of Italy flooded with the light of knowledge of that knowledge of the truth which maketh free, which lifteth man above chains and oppression, which rendereth him humble indeed, and, at an infinite distance, something like unto the God who made him. Oh! my brethren, pray for freedom-for the deliverance of Italy. Pray that he who teacheth the day-spring from on high to know its place, may roll away the darkness from the face of this country, and once more pronounce the revivifying words, 'Let there be light.' Religion, my brethren, is nothing without knowledge but a vile superstition, than which nothing is more unpleasing to God. Our happiness here and hereafter consists entirely in the knowledge of Him who is the well-spring of all other knowledge. Toil, therefore, without ceasing, that you may become worthy to possess the light which lighteth man to liberty." Much more to this effect did he say, in that sonorous, musical language of which even despotism cannot deprive the Italians. I could have embraced the friar with all my heart. I felt the yearnings of a brother towards him. He remembered, then, that Rome of old was a republic, and that all Italy shared the freedom of the Eternal City; and was content with bread and a hair-cloth shirt so that he might enjoy the privilege of diffusing sacred light around him like a star. Age and the love of truth had crowned him with majesty; and, doubtless, he has long ere this been gathered to his fathers, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." CHAPTER XX1.-SUNDAY IN THE WOODS-THE BRIGAND'S TRAGEDY. I found the captain seated at the inn door, beneath a trellised roof of vines, smoking a huge cigar, with a bottle of rich wine before him. "Here you are, my boy!" said he. "Come, let me fill you a bumper just to put you in a good humor for our long walk. Where are your lady friends! Gone to mass! It must be a charming thing that same mass, for my ladies, though Protestants, are off to enjoy it. But ecco! here they come. Well, ladies, are you peckish after mass, or shall we start at once?" Everybody voted that we should lunch first, and then take our dinner out into the woods, where the captain, proud of his local knowledge, said he would show us a mountain tarn on the margin of which we could dine delightfully. I am sadly afraid the reader will take me for an Epicurean, from my constant reference to breakfasts, dinners, &c.; but he must excuse me. The meal forms part of the recollection of the place where it was eaten, and I cannot easily recall the one without the other. The Dalmatian and Milanese were We started on foot, our dinner following us on an ass, driven by the son of the master of the inn. The captain's family consisted of a daughter aged sixteen and her governess, who were severally escorted by the Dalmatian and the Milanese. Madame B graced the captain's side; and, as usual, I walked with Carlotta, whose costume on this occasion was so curious, that I shall endeavor to describe it. Over a robe of purple velvet she wore a short pelisse of light blue silk, bordered with white fur. Her dress was fastened in front with agraffes of pearl, almost close up to the throat; these terminated with the glittering of a diamond necklace, which issued on both sides from beneath masses of luxuriant hair. At the wrists, long, full sleeves of lace shaded the fair, gloveless hand, which, in the sun, was covered with the furred lappet of the pelisse. Her delicate white bonnet, sufficiently large to shelter her face from the sun, was ornamented in the inside with a wreath of oak leaves and silver acorns, which produced the most extraordinary effect, especially when lighted up by her bright blue eyes. Carlotta's lips were the reddest in the world, and her teeth as white as ivory. When she spoke, therefore, and smiled, it was impossible to resist looking at her. Her chin was dimpled, and though there was habitually little color in her face, it became flushed with walking, and then looked radiant with joy and health. the panniers were heavy, the ass obstinate, and his halter very weak. What was to be done? We were averse to cruelty-yet our appetites informed us forcibly that we must dine. Our Milanese cut the Gordian knot by snatching the cudgel from the hands of Giovanni, and dealing the ass so tremendous a blow on the crupper, that he could no longer hesitate, but plunging down into the stream, made his way to land in the best way he could. One or two bottles were cracked in the operation, and shed their rich contents into the stream, to our inexpressible disappointment. However, there was no help for it, so on we went till we reached the banks of the Tarn, literally a mountain gem; so beautiful was its situation, so magnificent the cliffs arising from it on all sides, save the narrow gap by which we had entered into the basin. Just figure to yourself a sheet of water about half-amile in circumference, with precipices, several hundred feet high, sloping upwards from its edge, and terminating in crags and pinnacles, in some places pointed as needles. Wherever a scrap of earth would allow vegetation to take root, there small trees and shrubs feathered the acclivity, trembling and waving their variegated foliage over the abyss. It was, doubtless, an ancient crater; and fiery lava had hissed and boiled where that peaceful lake now spread, glittering in the sun. We sat down on large stones close to the water's edge, and taking out our solid materials, with the bottles which remained, we set about enjoying ourselves after the true English fashion, the cap Our walk through the trees was delicious. tain presiding, as his experience entitled him to There was sufficient light and air to nourish, at do. There were roast fowls, and small birds, delicious cold salmon, preserved fruits, jellies, and pastry, with wines of every hue and flavor. Everybody contributed a good keen appetite; and Carlotta, in particular, made great way with the fowls, for which she entertained a great partiality. Madame B-, also, and the other ladies performed their parts well; nor did any of us shrink from the wine, which circulated in profusion, till we were all in the best humor in the world. I should observe that Giovanni was not excluded from our circle; and as, of course, he could not be separated from his companion, he also petitioned for the admission of the ass, which, as Giovanni expressed it, ate bread and drank wine like a Christian. the foot of the trees, a delicate turf, half grass, half moss, on which the foot fell almost noiselessly. It was like a Persian carpet. The trunks of the trees, of all forms and dimensions, supporting an impenetrable canopy of leaves, were thinned towards the edge of the glades, and allowed chequered patterns of sunshine to descend upon the green sward. The most solemn stillness prevailed around, till it was broken by our merry laugh, and the dialogues held by Giovanni with his ass, whom he alternately scolded and encouraged, to keep his courage up. In one place we had to cross a dark stream by means of stepping-stones. A little to our left, a patch of sunshine fell upon the water, which danced and glittered as it flowed along, like a liquid mirror rippled by the breeze. On the right it plunged beneath umbrageous trees, which barely allowed us to catch a glimpse of its meanderings, as it flowed silently towards the Mediterranean. Giovanni here took it into his head that "That ledge," said Giovanni, "was not long the rivulet was too deep for the ass, which he ac- ago the scene of a sad tragedy, which plunged the cordingly wished to coax over the stepping-stones. whole of this neighborhood into grief. There was The animal for a long time resisted. Ultimately, a brigand in the mountains, who often disguised however, yielding to the logic of a stout cudgel, himself, and descended to our village to purchase he undertook the task; but upon reaching a broad provisions. On one of these occasions he saw a stone in mid-channel, stood still, obstinately determined neither to advance nor to retreat. We trembled for our dinner. Giovanni, a boy of about fourteen, now saw clearly he had made a false The stone was of considerable height, move. We all of us noticed a very extraordinary ledge of rock, projecting from between two pinnacles, above three hundred feet, at least, over our heads. beautiful girl, the daughter of a vine-grower, who lives close to our house; and, being a lawless person, he determined to steal her away. "It was not, however, so easy to put his design into execution; for the young girl seldom went |